Red Rain Boots

When you don’t want to play in the rain

Squish, squish, squish went the red rain boots as they ran at full speed behind Layla. Hahahaha, laughed the little boy wearing the boots.

Layla couldn’t believe how fast the kid could run. “Get away from me.” Layla said. “I’m gonna get you, I’m gonna get you.” said the little boy.

Layla had been camping on the northern side of Yellow Stone Park. The weather report said sunny days for the next four days, but on the third day it began to rain.

Layla had grown up enjoying camping, so a little rain never bothered her, but as soon as the rain started, she got an eerie feeling and decided to cut her trip short.

As she was packing her gear, she heard a child laughing. She looked behind her, but she didn’t see anyone. As soon as she turned back around to finish packing, he was standing there in his red rain boots, smiling with teeth as jagged as shards of glass.

Now he was chasing her through the woods and he was moving faster. She put some distance between them and hid behind some fallen trees.

She whimpered and thought about everyone she loved. “Please don’t let him find me God. I promise I’ll be a better person if you get me out of this fix.” she said in her head.

Squish, Squish…..he was jumping up and down on the other side of her hiding place. She pressed her body up against the fallen trees in the hope that he wouldn’t see her.

“1,2,3, guess what I see” he said

Then he jumped over the fallen trees and instead of a little boy, he looked like something between a warthog and a wolf.

Layla screamed in her mind, but her voice was gone. This thing, this animal was still wearing the red rain boots, although they were horribly misshaped to fit the form of this creature.

“God, no” was the last thing Layla said as the beast ripped her to shreds.

The little boy with the red rain boots, sat down and took his time enjoying Layla. She tasted like chicken. He loved his meals as fresh as possible. He ate every part of her including the bones. Afterwards, he wiped his mouth and headed home.

“Todd, where have you been.” the little boy’s mother said when he walked in the door.

“I was just outside playing with a nice lady I met in the woods.” Todd said. “I’ve told you not to talk to strangers, there are dangerous people in the world that prey on children.” she said.

“Oh Mommy. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself” Todd said.

She came over and hugged her little man tight. He was the best little fellow a mom could ask for and she knew how lucky she was.

Outside where Todd left his red rain boots, the color red ran down the boots and down the sidewalk. By morning all traces of Layla would be gone.